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Monday, August 15, 2005
2 Ex-Lancers picked in draft
WHILE Anthony Washington was expectedly made the top pick by Air21 Express, two former University of the Visayas stalwarts silently joined the ranks of the professionals yesterday after becoming among 18 players picked during the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Rookie Draft at the Sta. Lucia East Grand Mall in Cainta, Rizal.
Former UV Lancers team captain Neil Rañeses was taken 11th overall by Coca-Cola, which is under new head coach Binky Favis, while Cesar Catli, who played for the Baby Lancers in the Cebu Amateur Athletic Association, was picked 10th by Sta. Lucia.
MVP
Rañeses had a sterling campaign with the Lancers in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc., where he earned an MVP and led the Lancers to their third straight basketball title in his final year in 2003.
Rañeses player for Magnolia in the Philippine Basketball League and Tribu Sugbu in the National Basketball Championships.
Catli played college basketball with the Far Eastern University Tamaraws and had a key role when the Tams captured the UAAP championship in 2003.
Washington took center stage in the well-attended draft rites after getting an Air21 hat and jacket. But a spot on the Express team when the PBA opens on Oct. 31 is still not guarranteed.
“Maybe he’s just too good that is why we have so many trade offers for him. We just decided to pick him in the draft, then we’ll evaluate our options,” said Air21 board representative and team manager Lito Alvarez.
The San Miguel teams, Talk ‘N Text and Red Bull offered trade deals to Air21 involving Washington.
Air21 picked two other marquee players, Mark Cardona (No.5) and Niño Cañaleta (No.6), who could also end up playing elsewhere.
With the addition of Washington, Cardona and Cañaleta, Air21 now has 16 players, including 11 holdovers from its old lineup plus Marlon Legaspi and Rensy Bajar, who were acquired through the dispersal draft.
Alvarez said Renren Ritualo and Ranidel de Ocampo are the only untouchables among the 16 players.
“We’re open to trade deals involving all our players except Ritualo and de Ocampo,” said Alvarez. “We have a problem because we need to unload four players. But we consider this a good problem because we’re in a good situation and we have the luxury of time.”
Surprise pick
Sta. Lucia picked No.2 overall Alex Cabagnot, a former University of Hawaii-Hilo point guard, while FEU point guard Dennis Miranda went to Coke as the third pick. Purefoods plucked Jondan Salvador (No.4), and Ginebra acquired Mike Holper (No.7).
San Miguel’s No.8 pick, University of the East’s Paolo Hubalde, turned out to be the surprise of the draft. Son of former Crispa star Freddie Hubalde, Paolo had a mediocre stint with the UE Warriors in the UAAP but was picked ahead of more prominent names Leo Najorda (Red Bull at No.9), Al Magpayo (Coca-Cola No.12), BJ Manalo (Purefoods No.13) and Larry Fonacier (Red Bull No.14).
“I was surprised. I did not expect him to be picked that early in the draft,” said the elder Hubalde, who accompanied his son in the drafting.
After Fonacier, Alaska drafted Mark Joseph Kong, Sta. Lucia picked Rey Mendoza, Red Bull got Paolo Bugia and Talk ‘N Text enlisted Mark Macapagal to end the draft. JSV with report from PBA Media Bureau
(August 15, 2005 issue)
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